Author Notes: I can’t really say where the inspiration for this recipe came from, except that it was literally the first thing that popped into my head when I read “lemon, thyme and a grill.” Then when I made it, I found myself staring down at my bread and saying, “where have you been all my life?” It’s a wonderful appetizer or side to make if you’re grilling. The smokey grill flavor and crustiness of the bread combined with the salty, tangy, nutty, creamy, herbiness of the toppings is wonderful enough by itself, but it can also serve as a jumping off point for any number of sandwiches. You can top the bread and spreads off with slices of grilled chicken or a runny fried egg and grilled asparagus, for example, and your life will never be the same… – fiveandspice —fiveandspice
Food52 Review: We love the simple, rustic quality of this dish — and its ability to inspire endless adaptations: you use a different herb for the pesto, dab with ricotta instead of lemon cream, or, as fiveandspice illustrates in her blog, top with a fried egg. Grilled bread is so much better than toasted, and the heady perfume of the thyme pesto seduces you before you can even get the toast to your mouth. The preserved lemon cream softens any rough edges and adds richness. Unless you have many people to feed — and to help you strip the thyme leaves from their stems — we recommend halving the pesto recipe. – A&M —The Editors
Serves: 6 slices
Ingredients
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2
cups baby spinach, cleaned and torn into small pieces
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1/2
cup fresh thyme leaves (stems removed)
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1/2
cup toasted pine nuts
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3
garlic cloves, peeled and smashed
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1/2
cup freshly grated Parmesan
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1/2
teaspoon salt
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1/2
cup olive oil plus more for brushing
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1/2
cup creme fraiche
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2
teaspoons minced preserved lemon
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6
thick slices of good Italian country bread
Directions
- In a food processor, combine the spinach, thyme, pine nuts, garlic, Parmesan, and salt. Process until the ingredients are roughly chopped. With the processor running, gradually drizzle in the olive oil until you have a chunky pesto. Set aside. (This will make more pesto than needed; the rest can be kept refrigerated for about a week and used in other dishes like pasta, chicken, and fish.)
- In a small bowl, combine creme fraiche and preserved lemon. Allow to stand in the refrigerator for about a half hour for the flavors to combine.
- Heat the grill. Lightly brush each slice of bread with olive oil on both sides. Grill the slices a minute or two per side until they are crusty and have charred grill marks but are still soft in the middle.
- Spread each slice of bread with the pesto, and top with a generous smear of preserved lemon cream. Enjoy!
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Photo by James Ransom
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It took three of us a good 15 minutes to pick 1/4 cup of thyme leaves (half of what the recipe calls for).
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Baby spinach cuts the intensity of the thyme and smoothes out the pesto.
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A rough chop first.
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And then slowly drizzle in the olive oil as you finish pureeing. This way, everything will emulsify nicely.
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See?
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We found homemade preserved lemons at a local gourmet shop — much brighter and cleaner-tasting than the jarred kind.
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And much prettier!
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Merrill's day is made: this recipe calls for creme fraiche!
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Use a crusty Italian loaf to make your toasts, and don't be stingy when you slice it!
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Sun-dappled bread, doused in olive oil, awaits the grill.
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Watch the toasts, as they can char quickly.
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At attention.
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The line between grilled and burned is oh-so-fine.
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We recommend a generous swipe of pesto.
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Time to unleash your inner artist: are you a dolloper or a drizzler?
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